Coach Post Match – Todd Curley Round 4

WHAT South Fremantle coach Todd Curley had to say following Sunday's 94-point ANZAC Derby victory against East Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval.

QUESTION: You must enjoying coming here to play at East Fremantle Oval?
ANSWER: Yeah I think the most pleasing thing was that I think we were pretty solid for four quarters. It was our most consistent performance for a while and it was in tricky conditions. Obviously we would have liked to kick a bit straighter but I thought we were pretty good.

Q: You started well and didn’t let up all day, it was about as emphatic a performance as you could get?
A: There was a lot to be pleased about. The three young guys that came in did well and had an impact on the game. But I thought we had a much greater spread of contributors than we've had in the first two rounds. We were disappointed after Round 2 against Subi where we were pretty good for two and-a-half quarters and then really fell away. Last week we were OK and West Perth played pretty well to put us under pressure. We knew if East Fremantle had a look they could certainly cut us up and they can move the ball quick, but we were able to hold them up.

Q: As good as it was to have 71 inside 50s and 42 scoring shots yourself, to keep them to five goals and 19 inside-50 entries might have been even better?
A: We definitely want to restrict the opposition getting inside 50s because it makes it impossible to score if they can't get it in there. Holding them to 19 is pretty rare but we were happy with that and more happy with the weight of numbers.

Q: Brandon Donaldson had to wait for his opportunity this season but sure grabbed it with three goals and 28 possessions?
A: We've probably been pretty strong the last few years that to get into the side guys have to kick it in and then when they've done that they have been able to come in and play at the same level, and really contribute. He had to bide his time but he just keeps working hard and it was good to see him get some reward. He won a lot of contested footy as well. Zac Dent is in his first year at the club and he came in and did some nice things. Jake Florenca, we set him a task early that he did pretty well, and then he was able to contribute. It was pleasing.

Q: Ashton Hams has been very effective playing forward the past couple of weeks. Is that something you see him doing more at this point of his career?
A: He is just so smart and reads the ball so well. The plan with him is to definitely play midfield as well but today we probably didn’t have to play him midfield. He is just so smart with the footy but at the other end we had six guys with 13 games of experience or less back there. That's another positive. But Ashton has been fantastic, and touchwood, he had a really a good summer so hopefully he continues to play well.

Q: The contested ball was an area you really got on top in as well so it was pleasing to see the attack on the ball?
A: I think the contested ball numbers would have been our way in the end and we were a little bit disappointed with the way we went around the clearances last week against West Perth, and we were much more consistent in there today. Marlion played inside too and that's something that has been growing. We try to always grow more guys who can go through multiple positions and he was good in that role. That just gives us something a bit different. 

Q: You haven’t had to use Marlion Pickett permanently down back so far this year. He's a pretty handy player because he can play every position on the ground?
A: He is a fantastic player to have. He can play back, forward, midfield, ruck and he is a really selfless guy who will do as much as he can for the team. He had a good impact for us inside today with his speed and pressure.

Q: Do you come away from this game feeling as though you've now put together a performance that you hope to see from the team coming into a season?
A: I thought the first week against a team that clearly has smashed everyone they've played, I thought we were pretty good for two and-a-half quarters. And then last week it was pretty warm and we lost Jarrod Parry early and West Perth's pressure was pretty good. You can only beat who's in front of you so we are really happy to play well and had most of the 22 contribute, if not all and we were really consistent from start to finish. We didn’t let the scoreboard dictate our effort at any time and that's a plus.

Q: Challenging week now to head down to Albany to play Claremont on Saturday?
A: We'll recover and then train, and head down there on Friday. Some of the boys always joke it's a long way to Joondalup so it might not be much further for some of them to go to Albany. It's a great opportunity to go to the country regions and play. Claremont will provide another really good challenge for us.